Report: 5 Spanish soldiers face trial for torture

MADRID (AP) — Spain’s El Pais newspaper says five soldiers who served in Iraq face trial on charges of torture for brutally beating two Iraqi prisoners.

El Pais on Wednesday said a Madrid military court indicted the five following investigations into an amateur video published by the paper, which allegedly shows three soldiers repeatedly kicking two people on the ground while other soldiers watched.

The newspaper cited a military judge’s indictment report. Spain’s Defense Ministry and the court declined comment.

El Pais said the incident occurred in 2004 when Spanish troops formed part of the U.S.-led coalition forces. The paper said the case was the first of its kind in Spain.

There was no indication on when the trial will happen. Military trials in Spain aren’t open to the public.

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